Nursing home patients claim sexual abuse at facility

It's a crime that no one with elderly or sick parents wants to hear about on Mother's Day.

Columbus police detectives are investigating claims from three nursing home patients who say they were sexually assaulted.

Officials at River Towne Center on Warm Springs Road said none of their employees are accused of the crimes. The three female patients are alleging that two male patients at the facility perpetrated these acts on separate occasions.

The crimes were reported to police Friday and occurred at unknown times in the past.

According to the River Towne website, they are a care facility for elderly patients and people suffering from chronic conditions or prolonged illness.

River Towne released the following statement:

"Late last week, management of River Towne was made aware of an allegation made by a female resident of sexual assault by a male resident. We take any allegation very seriously and immediately contacted the local police department and the State Department of Health. In addition, we immediately launched our own internal investigation. The police conducted an investigation and no charges were filed. The resident who was accused of the alleged assault is no longer a resident of this center.

"In the course of our own internal investigation and interviews with residents, two additional allegations were shared regarding alleged sexual touching by one male resident to two separate residents. The allegations were reported to the police as well as the State Department of Health and we are cooperating fully. We believe that these will be found to be unsubstantiated allegations and expect the police to concur when their investigation is complete."

The women who reported these assaults to police are ages 53, 54, and 75. They are located in a secure wing of the building that cannot be accessed by the public. There are no direct lines to the patient rooms and nurses would not transfer calls from media. Attempts to reach family were unsuccessful. Facility administrators would not elaborate on the conditions of the patients or what they are being cared for.

That last text was sent September 19, half a day before Maria slammed into Puerto Rico. A week later, Jennifer's family in Louisiana is desperate to know what happened. The U.S. Coast Guard and the FBI are now looking for the missing boat.

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